Hunters in the Night (Hellsing Fanfic)

Ch 2- The Tepes Estate

The trip was road in silence. Neither of them knowing what to say.

Dracula had to stop the horse only once, their added weight putting somewhat of a strain on the stallion.

He dismounted and lifted her off once he was on the ground, letting the horse graze and drink from the nearby stream.

He stood a few feet from her, looking up at moon and stars showing bright in the night sky. The suddenly chill night air was no bother to him, but after a moment he heard the slight chatter and looked over to see her shivering uncontrollably. It was not her fault. Even the thick cloak could not make up for the fact she was only in her nightgown and slippers.

He walked over to her and wrapped her into a tight embrace. After a few moments she stopped shivering.

"Thank you," she whispered. This was the first she had spoken since being in the dinning room.

"You are welcome," he replied.

She leaned further into his chest and listened to the calming affect of his strong heartbeat.

Thump, thump... Thu-thump... Thump, thump.

Everything about him was strong to her. She, on the other hand, considered herself very weak. She could not even save her family, let alone herself.

After a few moments, he picked her up once more and carried her over to where the horse was grazing. He lifted her onto the saddle and led the horse back to the road. He then remounted and set the horse off.

They road for another fifteen moments before they reached their destination.

Caralina had figured Dracula was taking her to the police station or an inn so he could drop her off and be done with her. What she did not count on, was the horse coming to a stop in front of the Tepes Estate, or as others liked to call it, The Land of a Thousand Heads.

It was called so because Dracula and his father, Vladamir II, loved to take the heads of their opponents, stick them on wooden spikes, and display them in the front courtyard of the castle. It was originally called the Tepes Castle, but it was changed to lure in more unsuspecting opponents.

Dracula dismounted and lifted her off the sadle.

"What are we doing here?" she asked, placing her hands on his shoulders to steady herself.

"Would you like me to take you somewhere else?" he asked as he set her on the ground.

"No, I just..." she started.

"Just what?" he asked.

"Nothing. It is not important."

Just then, she realized she still had her hands on his shoulders, and his hands were still on her hips. She slowly took her hands off. A look of disappointment crossed his face for a split second, but he recomposed himself before she could see it.

She was about to step away from him when his grip on her hips became tighter and he pulled her back to him. He then, once again, lifted her into his arms.

Her eyes nearly popped out of her head at his actions, but she knew he was not one to let things go, she she simply wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his chest.

 Just then, the stable boy came running around the corner to retrieve the horse. He was used to seeing his masters son in bloody clothes. He was not, however, used to seeing pretty young girls nestled in his arms with cuts and blood all over their body. He knew better than to question the royal family, though, and brushed it off as if it were nothing and took the horse away to the stables.